Wednesday 18 November 2009

Good news!






















Yesterday the council agreed to postpone the decision on closing down the schools! -Until next elections.., so for now we can relax. What a relief!!
For those of you who live in Norway; We're in this weeks edition of the woman's magazine KK, featured in a double page spread titled 'Freedom on a small island'. Two wonderful women, the journalist Anne-Line Henriksen and the photographer Lisbeth Michelsen, came to visit. I feel happy about it, because it portrays me and the Guest House in a very genuine way. 
The photographer of the above photo is Lisbeth Michelsen, and this photo was part of another article we were part of earlier in the year. Not sure what happened, but after 4 years of running Maries Gjestehus we've had a lot of national publicity. One magazine after another came to visit us on the island in 2009.   

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Guardian angels mobile


In the past two months we've had no less than three newcomers to our island, well new world citizens! Two beautiful baby boys and one girl were born within the space of two weeks.
As a gift, I made made a mobile with guardian angels, to wish the little ones much, much love and happiness.

Save our school!

Meeting a rabbit and laughing children in the middle of the island road, during our morning walk, both Malou and I appreciated.

Sandøya is a car free island, and this is the way to the island school, inviting to new adventures every day.
Growing up on Sandøya where we have a kindergarten and a primary school (1st to 4th grade) definitively provides the children with a safe, not to mention fantastic learning environment. I didn't grow up here myself, but all islanders I have met, truly are a testimony to that growing up here is a special experience. Both the kindergarten and the school are essential to that, because they also function as the 'glue' in this small community.
As it goes the council is now in the midst of a decision making process of closing down all the local schools. Shut down schools, and build one big one instead is where it is heading. Save money, short term that is.
When most of the population is dotted around in small communities on the outskirts of the town of Tvedestrand, it hardly makes any sense.  Also when you take into consideration this may be one of the reasons why young families move here; the proximity of everything, local schools included.
So today is the day of letting our voices be heard in the form of a demonstration. This evening we'll gather in Tvedestrand and march to show the politicians what we think.